The Clean Cut: Bride escorted down the aisle by deceased father's heart recipient

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By Kelsey Schwab, Deseret News

Because Jeni Stepien’s father, Michael, was killed in 2006, he couldn’t walk her down the aisle at her wedding Saturday.

However, she had a little bit of him there, both physically and in spirit.

Arthur Thomas’ life was changed forever because of Stepien’s father — he was the recipient of Michael’s heart when he passed away. Per Stepien's request, Thomas traveled from New Jersey to Pennsylvania to walk her down the aisle at her wedding.

"What greater honor could a person have than walking the daughter of man who's given his heart to him? I can’t imagine a greater honor,” Thomas said in an ITV article.

In a video on CNN’s YouTube channel, Stepien is shown thanking Thomas for coming. As he placed her hand on his wrist and his chest to feel her father’s heartbeat, she was overcome with emotion and gratitude.

“I was just so thankful that my dad could be here today in spirit and a piece of his physical being, as well. That was very special for us,” Stepien said in the video.